Florida County Axes All Books With LGBTQ Characters

Popular Information reports:

Librarians in public schools in Charlotte County, Florida, were instructed by the school district superintendent to remove all books with LGBTQ characters or themes from school and classroom libraries.

Charlotte County school librarians sought guidance from the school district about how to apply an expansion of the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, better known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, to all grades. “Are we removing books from any school or media center, Prek-12 if a character has, for example, two mothers or because there is a gay best friend or a main character is gay?” the librarians asked. Charlotte County Superintendent Mark Vianello answered, “Yes.”

The guidance by Vianello and the school board’s attorney, Michael McKinley, was obtained by the Florida Freedom to Read Project (FFTRP) through a public records request and shared with Popular Information. FFTRP requested “electronic records of district and school decisions regarding classroom and library materials.” In response, FFTRP received a document memorializing a July 24 conversation between Vianello and district librarians, known in Florida as media specialists.

Read the full article.

“Are we removing books from any school/media center, Prek-12 if a character has, for example, 2 mothers or because there is a gay best friend or a main character is gay?” the librarians asked. Charlotte County Superintendent Mark Vianello answered, “Yes.” https://t.co/hWwS2xNmir

— Florida Freedom to Read Project (@FLFreedomRead) September 26, 2023

PORT CHARLOTTE – Mark Vianello is the new superintendent of Charlotte County Public Schools. https://t.co/X1Qd91yjdG

— Port Charlotte Sun (@CharlotteSunFla) May 25, 2023

NEWS UPDATE — The School Board of Charlotte County has selected Mark Vianello to be the new superintendent. ⬇ https://t.co/Le0Qj86SFC

— ABC7 News (@ABC7SWFL) May 10, 2023